Ahadi and her friend Belta received training and tools from our partner so they could open a tailors workshop.

It’s wonderful to think that on that day, we will this year be fasting and praying not just with Catholics across England and Wales, but with Catholics across the whole world.

To mark this special occasion, CAFOD Liverpool are holding a prayer session for volunteers, supporters and staff starting at 1pm till 1.30pm which will be followed by a simple vegetarian soup and bread lunch at the CAFOD Liverpool Volunteer Centre.

All are welcome to attend this free event!

The address is 27 Crofton Road, Liverpool L13 5UJ. Please let us know if you are coming or have any particular dietary requirements on 0151 228 4028 or liverpool@cafod.org.uk

Categories: Prayer, CAFOD Liverpool

Tags: Pope Francis, World Day of Prayer and Fasting, Family Fast Day, Lent Appeal, CAFOD, Event

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. You are undoubtedly surrounded by shops filled with gifts for your nearest and dearest, but this year you can really make it count by supporting CAFOD’s green heart campaign and showing your love for God’s creation.

Show the love this Valentine’s Day

This February, show you care by starting a conversation on climate change by crafting and sharing your own green heart.

Our beautiful world is under threat from the changing climate, and it’s the poorest people who are most vulnerable. One in five of our sisters and brothers still don’t have access to the clean energy they need to lift themselves out of poverty.

Last year students from Liverpool Hope University made their mark by holding a bake sale, pledging to go greener and sharing what they treasure about our planet: beaches, mountains, trees and bees! It was a great way to consciously take action and to understand the changes our world is seeing.

Get involved!

Follow Liverpool Hope’s lead and hold your own event with your parish or school community. This campaign is perfect for children’s liturgy.

Small actions contribute to making big changes, so this February we’d encourage you to make and share your green heart.

Write to your MP using our template letter or invite them along to your craft event.

CAFOD’s campaign volunteer co-ordinator in Liverpool, Emily McIndoe, said: “It’s so easy to support this campaign and share your love for the environment. What a fun way to get children involved in liturgy, and a brilliant activity to complete with your family, friends and fellow parishioners. You could even hold your own green theme coffee morning!”

An 81-year-old and a 12-year-old who come together every year for a charity Fun Run will once again be returning to Wavertree Athletics Centre to raise money for CAFOD.

81-year-old Mary Coghlan and youngster Benjamin Moore, 12, would not usually cross paths, but each year they both take part in the post-Christmas run with a shared goal of raising money to help some of the poorest communities across the world.

The event, which features live entertainment from the jazz band ‘The Rioters’, is in its 34th year and led by a team of committed volunteers.

Benjamin with his mum, who he runs with annually

Mary said: “The best part is the people you meet. You might not see them at any other point throughout the year but to see them every year without fail at the Fun Run is truly inspiring.”

“You’re as young as you feel, and the Fun Run is great for all. You just do what you can on the day… It doesn’t matter how slow you are – I just enjoy the walk!”

Ben, who has taken part in the run with his mum Fiona for four years, said: “It’s a family tradition to take part. I’ve raised over £3000 for CAFOD in the last few years.

Mary and her friend Sr Pat

Ben, who has taken part in the run with his mum Fiona for four years, said: “It’s a family tradition to take part. I’ve raised over £3000 for CAFOD in the last few years.

“I really like keeping fit and play sport regularly. I first did the 3k three years ago, and last year moved up to 7k. I can run 5k comfortably but the extra two was a challenge!”

Last year, the Fun Run raised over £11,000 for CAFOD.

The run takes place at Wavertree Athletics Centre on 27 December. Registration opens at 12 noon and the run starts at 1pm. Entry is £7 for individuals and £15 for families. There is also a special bargain entry of £70 for teams of 10+. This year there are three distances: 2k, 4k and 8k.

Are you unsure what to get your loved ones this Christmas? Have you considered World Gifts?

What are World Gifts? World Gifts are CAFOD’s charity gift range of unusual, ethical presents that will delight your friends and family. Our alternative gifts help transform the lives of poor communities and families in developing countries. The person you buy the gift on behalf of will receive a beautifully illustrated card of your chosen gift, together with a presentation gift envelope, which explains how their gift can help people fighting poverty in developing countries. Two such examples are “Chirpy Chickens” and “The Net That Protects” .

For only £20 you can buy “Chirpy Chickens” which provides chickens, along with training to help look after them, so poor families can produce eggs to eat and sell. So here are three reasons to buy this Chirpy chickens gift!

1. This egg-cellent gift makes an unusual Christmas present for animal lovers!
2. A chicken is a great alternative for farmers who can’t rely on crops because it doesn’t need much space and can produce nutritious eggs daily.
3. Chickens also breed well, meaning that a family’s flock can quickly grow.

For only £7 you can buy “The net that protects” which is a real life-saver! This simple, treated mosquito net can keep families and babies safe from deadly diseases. Three reasons to buy this gift are:

1. This is a lovely gift for a new baby, a Baptism, or simply to support newborns at Christmas time.

2. Help to protect babies and young children, who are particularly vulnerable to malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases.

3. Emergencies and wars can mean families are living in temporary shelter, increasing their risk, but this net offers protection from deadly diseases.

CAFOD aim to dispatch all orders received by 15 December within 5 working days. Alternatively, please call 0808 14 000 14 before 12 noon on 21 December to request next day delivery at a cost of £5.

You are invited to get into the festive spirit in a carol concert which will be held on 3 December from 6pm. The concert is being organised by volunteers from Warrington’s CAFOD network and is free to attend but of course, donations are welcome!

The evening will be held at Sacred Heart Church, 7 Old Liverpool Rd, Warrington WA5 1AE.

Volunteers from in and around Warrington are hosting their first Christmas carol concert in aid of CAFOD.

Members of the Warrington CAFOD network are inviting people to join them at the sing-along carol concert. With performances by local schoolchildren and an appearance from Phoenix Community Choir, the evening promises to be a vibrant event with plenty of high quality entertainment.

The network’s chairperson, Julie Johnson, said: “The carol concert will be a great way to reflect, but also a great evening full of feel-good, high quality entertainment. It will be lovely to bring people together from across the town, and what a way to begin Advent!”

CAFOD’s representative in Warrington, Ged Edwards, said: “This is a relatively new network of CAFOD volunteers and they are already achieving great things! The members are so passionate about what they are doing and it’s lovely to see the group growing.

“Their commitment will help to transform the lives of communities across the world.”

The concert is on 3 December at Sacred Heart parish church, Liverpool Road, Warrington and will begin at 6pm. Simply turn up on the night and make a small donation. After the concert, there will be festive refreshments.